Jones Day Forum

[Anonymous User]

I accepted an offer at the Cleveland office and found the people to be friendly and supportive. Almost everybody is out of the office by 5, though people definitely do work from home. Also, we got our offers over champagne on the last day of the program.

I have a few offers from Cleveland firms and am deciding whether to take the JD one. The ranking isn't as important to me as the "fit." I'm from Cleveland and plan on staying here for personal reasons. Could you elaborate on the culture of the Cleveland office specifically? Thanks!

[Anonymous User]

I accepted an offer at the Cleveland office and found the people to be friendly and supportive. Almost everybody is out of the office by 5, though people definitely do work from home. Also, we got our offers over champagne on the last day of the program.

I have a few offers from Cleveland firms and am deciding whether to take the JD one. The ranking isn't as important to me as the "fit." I'm from Cleveland and plan on staying here for personal reasons. Could you elaborate on the culture of the Cleveland office specifically? Thanks!

I'm honestly curious - why wouldn't you take the Jones Day one? Like, what are your concerns? From what I've heard from lawyers in Cleveland, JD is considered the best. hands down. I mean, maybe if you were considering some smaller "lifestyle" firms, then that might be a consideration. But I honestly can't think of a reason you would choose Baker or Squire over JD, as you'll work just as hard, they aren't as financially stable, and neither have a reputation for having a better culture than JD.

[Anonymous User]

I accepted an offer at the Cleveland office and found the people to be friendly and supportive. Almost everybody is out of the office by 5, though people definitely do work from home. Also, we got our offers over champagne on the last day of the program.

I have a few offers from Cleveland firms and am deciding whether to take the JD one. The ranking isn't as important to me as the "fit." I'm from Cleveland and plan on staying here for personal reasons. Could you elaborate on the culture of the Cleveland office specifically? Thanks!

I'm honestly curious - why wouldn't you take the Jones Day one? Like, what are your concerns? From what I've heard from lawyers in Cleveland, JD is considered the best. hands down. I mean, maybe if you were considering some smaller "lifestyle" firms, then that might be a consideration. But I honestly can't think of a reason you would choose Baker or Squire over JD, as you'll work just as hard, they aren't as financially stable, and neither have a reputation for having a better culture than JD.

Well Squire is another option I have. But, yes, I am considering smaller firms (60-100 attorneys in the CLE office) so the lifestyle would be different I would assume. I think the 3 big Cleveland firms do have different reputations for culture though... at least from what I've heard from lawyers/classmates. In the end, I will probably take the offer (for the reasons you mentioned). I'm just trying to do some research and get some opinions from people with inside knowledge of the firms-- specifically the Cleveland offices. I really liked what I saw during my callback but I'm generally a more cautious person and wanted to sleep on it and not just jump at the offer (which came the day after the callback). Not to get this post off topic or anything but how long can I realistically wait to accept the offer without it reflecting badly on me? I have a three more weeks until the NALP deadline. I hope my response satisfied your curiosity!

[Anonymous User]

Well Squire is another option I have. But, yes, I am considering smaller firms (60-100 attorneys in the CLE office) so the lifestyle would be different I would assume. I think the 3 big Cleveland firms do have different reputations for culture though... at least from what I've heard from lawyers/classmates. In the end, I will probably take the offer (for the reasons you mentioned). I'm just trying to do some research and get some opinions from people with inside knowledge of the firms-- specifically the Cleveland offices. I really liked what I saw during my callback but I'm generally a more cautious person and wanted to sleep on it and not just jump at the offer (which came the day after the callback). Not to get this post off topic or anything but how long can I realistically wait to accept the offer without it reflecting badly on me? I have a three more weeks until the NALP deadline. I hope my response satisfied your curiosity!

That makes sense. Every law firm obvi has a differently culture, its just that in most cases when people have questions about taking an offer from the best firm and raise questions about culture, its when the 'better' firm has a reputation for having a shitty culture/associates are slave labor/un-friendly partners/etc. And I haven't heard any of this about jones day cleveland - in fact, I've heard nothing but positive things about culture.

As someone who has had to make the SA decision, I think you're right to worry about culture/fit, but unfortunately its very difficult to deduce during CBs and people on forums will all have different impressions of each firm. I would go with your gut - wherever you felt the most comfortable. (And perhaps keep in mind financial stability, as finding a firm with a good culture isn't worth much if you don't get a permanent offer).

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any experience with the CA Jones Day offices? I know they all have pretty small classes so don't want to get any more specific.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know the offer rates this year for Chicago? Last year someone was no-offered. Does Jones typically no-offer an SA or 2 or was that just a blip in the radar?

Bump on this question. Anyone?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know the offer rates this year for Chicago? Last year someone was no-offered. Does Jones typically no-offer an SA or 2 or was that just a blip in the radar?

Bump on this question. Anyone?

Heard it was 100% this summer (but 1 person is either doing a clerkship or fed gov) and that the no-offered kid was pretty bad, but that's all word-of-mouth.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone know the offer rates this year for Chicago? Last year someone was no-offered. Does Jones typically no-offer an SA or 2 or was that just a blip in the radar?

Bump on this question. Anyone?

Typically, there are offers for everyone. The stories last summer about previous no offers were truly worthy of the no offer. They don't do cold offers and they know what signal that sends, so it has to be serious to get the no offer.

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone have any experience with the CA Jones Day offices? I know they all have pretty small classes so don't want to get any more specific.

Did a callback in LA. Seems to be a theme across JD offices, but great, great people - I arrived not too excited for whatever reason, but I was definitely drinking the Jones Day kool aid by the end. Beautiful office space. And you're right, it's a small class (around 6-8 people, I think).

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone heard from SF recently? Had a CB a couple weeks ago and haven't heard a peep. Getting nervous with offer deadlines next week...

[Anonymous User]

anyone with a chicago CB last week heard anything?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have an idea on DC CB:offer ratio or timeline for hearing back?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have an idea on DC CB:offer ratio or timeline for hearing back?

I was wondering this too. There doesn't seem to be a lot of DC office talk in this thread. I asked this question last week, and someone said they heard a day later last year with an offer. I am at about a week now with silence.

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have an idea on DC CB:offer ratio or timeline for hearing back?

I was wondering this too. There doesn't seem to be a lot of DC office talk in this thread. I asked this question last week, and someone said they heard a day later last year with an offer. I am at about a week now with silence.

I know people who have interviewed with the DC office from the same school. One might get an offer right away and another might get rejected via snail mail while a third is left in limbo. I don't know what's going on inside (I was only an SA) but it seems like they are waiting to see who is going to accept/reject before making additional offers to people they would like to have but might not have space for. Hope that's at least a little helpful...

[Anonymous User]

Any recent activity from NY?

[Anonymous User]

Anyone have an idea on DC CB:offer ratio or timeline for hearing back?

I was wondering this too. There doesn't seem to be a lot of DC office talk in this thread. I asked this question last week, and someone said they heard a day later last year with an offer. I am at about a week now with silence.

I know people who have interviewed with the DC office from the same school. One might get an offer right away and another might get rejected via snail mail while a third is left in limbo. I don't know what's going on inside (I was only an SA) but it seems like they are waiting to see who is going to accept/reject before making additional offers to people they would like to have but might not have space for. Hope that's at least a little helpful...

I assumed as much. I guess fingers crosses that I am in limbo at this point

[Anonymous User]

Hopefully they're holding some spots for those of us with a CB in the coming days.

[Anonymous User]

anyone hear back this week?

[Anonymous User]

anyone hear back this week?

Edit: Just checked my mail and got my ding letter.

[Anonymous User]

anyone hear back this week?

Edit: Just checked my mail and got my ding letter.

That sucks. Which office?

[Anonymous User]

anyone hear back this week?

Edit: Just checked my mail and got my ding letter.

That sucks. Which office?

My roommate got a DC ding.

[Anonymous User]

Any Houston offers/dings?

[Anonymous User]

anyone hear back this week?

Edit: Just checked my mail and got my ding letter.

That sucks. Which office?

My roommate got a DC ding.

Mine was DC too.

[Anonymous User]

DC offer last week. Can anyone speak to the no-offer rate that I'm seeing on NALP? In 2011 only 17/19 SAs were offered. Bad work product and if so, how bad? Personality issues?

[Anonymous User]

I heard two stories about SAs getting no-offered. I don't know if they were both 2011 but they were both recent.

1. An SA who split the summer between DC and anther JD office. First half in DC went well and then the SA somehow seriously pissed off a partner at the second office. I don't know how exactly but it was related to attitude/maturity etc.

2. Second SA's work product (writing) was just subpar: typos, subject-verb agreement, grammar, etc. The issue was identified to the SA and was not fixed over the course of the summer. I heard it described as being clear that the SA just couldn't do the work.

As a side note, we were encouraged to have our mentors look at our work before submitting it to help us put our best foot forward. I really don't see an issue like this arising out of the blue.

HTH.